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U.S. Men's Select Team Falls to Slovakia, 3-2, in Shootout at Deutschland Cup

11/08/2009, 9:30am MST

By USA Hockey

MUNICH, Germany - Jeff Hamilton (Englewood, Ohio) and Joe Motzko (Bemidji, Minn.) both scored regulation goals to give Team USA a 2-0 second-period advantage, but the U.S. Men's Select Team fell to Slovakia, 3-2, in a shootout here tonight in the final game of the 2009 Deutschland Cup. The U.S., which had all three of its games end in a shootout, secured second place in the tournament with a 0-2-1-0 record.

"It's a disappointing end since we came into the game knowing we could have brought home the championship," said Peter Laviolette, head coach of the 2009 U.S. Men's Select Team. "I couldn't be prouder of the way the team played with three overtime games in three nights. They showed tremendous guts and courage, and served the jersey very proudly."

After Chris Collins (Fairport, N.Y.) was tripped on breakaway late in the first period, the U.S. was awarded a penalty shot. Hamilton, who took the shot for Team USA, came down the ice and faked a shot before sending a backhanded attempt over Slovakian netminder Branislav Konrad's blocker to give the U.S. a 1-0 lead.

In the middle frame, Andy Hedlund (Osseo, Minn.) sent a pass to J.D. Forrest (Auburn, N.Y.), who launched a cross-ice pass through the neutral zone that found Motzko for a breakaway. Motzko skated into the offensive zone and fired a shot over Konrad's glove at 4:49 for a 2-0 advantage.

Slovakia cut the lead in half 2:30 later with a goal from Dominik Granak. Ivan Ciernik sent a pass from behind the net to Granak, who scored high to the glove side.

Ciernik tied the game at 14:02 of the period when his pass attempt through the slot deflected off a U.S. defenseman and into the back of the net.

After a scoreless third period and overtime, the U.S. and Slovakia needed six shootout rounds to determine the winner. Hamilton netted three shootout markers for Team USA but hit the post with the game's last attempt as Slovakia gained the 3-2 victory.

Both U.S. netminders saw action in the game, with Jean-Marc Pelletier (Atlanta, Ga.) getting the start and allowing one goal on 19 shots, while David Leggio (Buffalo, N.Y.) stopped 23 of 24 shots.

NOTES: Alex Brooks (Madison, Wis.) was named U.S. Player of the Game ... Jean-Marc Pelletier was named the tournament's best goaltender. He led all netminders with a .948 save percentage and 1.86 goals-against average ... For Team USA's roster, click here... The Deutschland Cup has been held every year since 1990 and featured Germany, Slovakia, Switzerland and the United States ... In addition to Team USA's second-place finish in 2009, the U.S. won the tournament in 2003 and 2004, garnered a second-place finish in 2007 and finished third in 2005.